Mining machine



Aug. 26, 1930. M. P. HOLMES MINING MACHIXE Filed Aug. 22, 1928 E2067 02 0 WornErEffoZmeJ.

Patented Aug. 26, 1930- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS P. HOLMES, OFOLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS MINING MACHINE Applicationfiled August 22, 1928. Serial No. 301,380.

My invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly to air Operated mining machines.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved mining machine. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved mining machine of the air driven type having improved motive fluid supply connections. Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter subsequently appear.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one illustrative embodiment of my invention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mining machine F arranged in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof Fig. 3 is a front end elevation thereof.

4 is a detail cross section on the line 11 44 of Fig. 1.

7 Referring tothe drawings,- a mining machine l of the air operated type is shown cutting along a working facej2, the machine having its cutter bar 3 extending beneath the coal asiit'moves; in a left to'right direction in Fig. 1 An air supply pipe 4 is provided at the forward end of'the machine, and the supply of fluid throughthispipe iscontrolled by a suitable hand-wheel- 5 controlling valve mechanism not shown.

The movement of the machine being toward the right in Fig. 1, it is obviously desirable to avoid the making of an air connection by means of hose directly tothe supply pipe 4, for there would be'danger of the machines running overthe hoseand of the hose get-f ting-in; the way-ofthe machine runner. Ac cordingly I have provided a pipe connection 6 leading to an elbow 7 one of whose branches extends vertically upward, and havejarranged a hanger 8 above the elbow to guide and provide a journal for a vertically extending pipe 9; A flat conduit I0- is connected at one end to the upper endof the vertical pipe 9, while atits other end the conduit 10 is provided with a depending air supply connection 11. As it is important that the overall height of the machine be kept low, the conduit 10 is made quite wide as indicated'in at and very--thi11-= from top to bottom.

As the machine 1 may cut in either direction along a given face, that is, with either side of the machine next to the face, it is very desirable to'provide for the attachment of the air supply in each case at the side of the machineremotefrom the face. Therefore provision is made to permit the disposition of the conduit 10 in difie'rent relations to the machine frame. The conduit may obviously swivel about the axis of the pipe 9, and to permit its being held in different positions ears 12 are formed on opposite sides of it. Each of the ears is traversed by a hole 13 whose upper end is surrounded by a recess 10 to receive thehead of a bolt, the holes 13 being oval in form to permit the accommodation of screws in different relative positions. The top of the rear end of the machine 1 has a cover member 15 which is held in position by machine screws 16, and a machine screw 16 may be removed at either side of the machine and thenreinserted in the hole 13 in one of the cars 12 for the purpose oflocking the conduit proper position: Similarly, screws 17 holding in position a smaller plate 18 may be used in conjunction with the hole 13 in the other of theears; By arranging the conduit with its air supply end remote from'the face, the air supply hose is kept from so much wear and more conveniently located. The air connecti-on 11 is maintained within the transverselimits of the machine in either position thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that I have provided a very simple method of enabling the supply of pressure fluid to be delivered at the rear end of an air operated mining machine without materially increasing the height thereof, and that this mechanism permits the connection tobe made in themost advantageous position irrespec tive of which side of the machine is next to the working face. 7, V

. While Ihave' in thisapplication' specifically described one form which-my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that modified. and embedied 'in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a kerf cutting mining machine having kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated driving motor therefor and a fluid supply connection for said motor at one end of the machine, of a supplemental fluid supply connection having connnunication with said first mentioned fluid supply connection and pivotally connected at one end at said end of the machine and extending along the top and outside thereof to the other end of the machine and swingable into a plurality of positions relative to the machine, and means for holding said supplemental fluid supply-connection in its different adjusted positions in each of which the same lies within the lateral limits of the machine but with its end at the end of the machine remote from its pivot adjacent one of said lateral limits.

2. The combination with a pressure fluid operated kerf cutting mining machine including a low compact machine frame having a plane top exterior surface, kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated motor for driving said kerf cutting mechanism and a fluid supply connection for said motor at one end of the machine, of means for conducting pressure fluid from the other end of the machine to said fluid supply connections including a rigid fluid conduit member extending between the ends of the machine along the top and outside of the machine frame and lying substantially against the top plane exterior surface of the machine frame.

3. The combination with a pressure fluid operated lrerf cutting mining machine hav ing a plane top exterior surface, kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated motor for driving said kerf cutting mechanism and a' fluid supply connection for said motor at one end of the machine, of means for conducting pressure fluid from the other end of the machine to said fluid supply connections including a rigid fluid conduit member extending between the ends of the machine along the top and outside of the machine frame and lying substantially against the top plane. exterior surface of the machine frame and disposable indifferent positions with respect thereto.

4. The combination with a pressure fluid perated kerf cutting mining machine including a low compact machine frame having aplane'top exterior surface, kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated motor for driving said kerf cutting mechanism and a fluid sup- )ly connection for said'motor atone end of the machine, of means for conducting pressure' fluid from the other end ofthe machine to said fluid supply connection including a rigid fluid conduit member adjustably connected to said supply connection and extending between the ends of the machine along the top and outside of the machine frame and lying substantially against the top plane exterior surface of the machine frame and disposable in different positions with respect thereto.

5. The combination with a pressure fluid operated mining machine including a low compact machine frame having a plane top surface and a fluid supply connection at one end of the machine, of means for conducting pressure fluid from the opposite end of the machine to said fluid supply connection in cluding a conduit member extending along the top of and lying substantially against the top plane surface of the machine and disposable' in different positions with respect thereto, said member living a fluid tight swivel connection at one end of the machine about which said member is swingable into said different positions, and means for securing said member in said different positions.

6. The combination with a pressure fluid operated kerf cutting mining machine including a low compact machine frame having a plane top exterior surface, kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated motor for driving said lrerf cutting mechanism and a fluid supply connection for said motor at one end of the machine, of means for conducting pres sure fluid from the other endof the machine to said fluid supply connection including a rigid fluid conduit member substantially rectangular in cross-section extending between the ends of the machine along the top and outside of the machine frame and lyin sub stantially against the plane top exterior surface of the machine frame. I

7. The combination with a longwall pressure fluid operated kerf cutting mining machine having a low compact frame 'slidable on'its bottom over the mine bottom, kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated driving motor for said kerf cutting mechanism and a fluid supply connection for said motor at one end of the machine, of means for conducting pressure fluid from the opposite endof the machine to said supply connection including a rigid fluid conduit member extending along the top and outside of the machine frame and lying substantiallyagainst the top exterior surface of said frame and extending beyond the ends thereof, and a fluid inlet connection on said conduit member at the end thereof opposite from said first mentioned supply connection.

S. The combination with longwall pressure fluid operated mining machine having a low compact frame slidable on its bottom over the mine bottom and a fluid supply connection at one end thereof, of means for conducting pressure fluid from the opposite end of said machine to said supply connection in cluding a conduit member lying substantially operated kerf cutting mining machine adapagainst the top surface of said frame and ex tending along the top and beyond the ends thereof, and a fluid connection on said con-' duit member at the end thereof opposite from said first mentioned supply connection, said conduit member having a fluid tight swivel mechanism, a fluid actuated driving motor i therefor and a fluid supply'connectionfor said motor, of means for conducting pressure fluid to said fluid supply connection including a rigid fluid conduit member connected to said supply connection and having its inlet adjustable to positions at either side of the machine so that irrespective of the direction of cutting the fluid inlet is located at the side of the machine away from the coal face.

10. The combination with a pressure fluid operated kerf'cutting mining machine adapted selectively to cut in opposite directions on opposed coal faces and having kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated driving motor therefor and a fluid supply'connection for said motor, of means for conducting pressure fluid to said fluid supply connection including a rigid fluid conduit member having a swiveled connection with said fluid supply connection and swingable to positionswherein its inlet is disposed at the side of the machine away from the coalface irrespective of the direction of cutting.

11. The combination with a pressure fluid ed selectively to cut in opposite directions on opposed coal faces and having kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated driving motor therefor and a fluid supply connection for said motor, of means for conducting pressure fluid from said fluid supply connection including a rigid fluid conduit member lying substantially against and extending over the top of the machine between the ends of the latter and connected to said supply connection and having its inlet adjustable to positions at either side of the machineso that irrespective of the direction of cutting said fluid inlet is located'at the side of the machine away from the coal face.

12. The combination with a pressure fluid operated kerf cutting mining machine adapt: ed selectively to cut in opposite directions on opposed coal faces and having kerf cutting mechanism, a fluid actuated driving motor therefor and a fluid supply connection for i said motor, of means for conducting pressure fluid fromsaid fluid supply connection including a rigid fluid conduit member lying substantially against and extending over the top of the machine between the ends of the latter and having a swiveled connection with said fluid supply connection and swingable to positions wherein its inlet is disposed at the side of the machine away from the coal face irrespective of the direction of cutting.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MORRIS P; HOLMES. 

